We've only got time for a little one today folks... We've been having more than a few technical difficulties today, so please excuse us if anything looks a little odd...

But anyway, let's get to it!

We've had another case of the community coming forward with their own suggestions for Sustainable September. Keep them coming, we love to hear them all. Today's post is all about online peer support.

Who's heard of Working Towards Zero Waste - Yate and Chipping Sodbury Facebook group? Well we hadn't until the wonderful Paul told us about them. They're a growing online community group made up of local people all giving each other support with sustainable living and reducing waste. It's a fantastic thing to be part of because they value non-judgemental attitudes. You can search for advice and make suggestions of your own. Wondering what to do with your old holey tights? Just ask! Found a local group collecting bottle tops for charity, tell others! Post a comment to promote and support local campaigns and initiatives. It's that simple...

What are you waiting for? Hop on over to Facebook and take a look for yourself!

If you've got children (or pets) we're sure you'll be familiar with this story. You decide to give your little loved ones a treat, something fancy, possibly expensive and...

They ignore it completely and have more fun with the box.

As frustrating as it is they may well be on to something... We're all aware of the importance of recycling, but doing the weekly sort and separate can be pretty dull and just feel like yet another chore to add to the list. Rummage through your rubbish and turn it into something you feel proud of. You can start simple, like we did with our piggy banks, bird feeders and Christmas decorations. When you've got the hang of it you can let your imagination run wild!

Gainsborough Court is an independent living home for people who live with disability. The residents have formed their own art group and proudly took up the sustainability challenge when they heard about our photography competition. For the 'Doing Our Bit' category they gathered their recycling and worked together on their sculpture of the Severn Bridge... And yes, it does stand up, we have photographic proof! Great work everyone!

Wrong. It's not childish, it's called honing your artist talents! Who cares how small you start, one day you could be the talk of the town. What may seem silly now could soon turn into skills you can share with your community. With some practice, teamwork and some inspirational rubbish reuse, you could one day find yourself leading projects like these:

Thank you to LitterArti for helping us with various community projects over the years.

​Recycling doesn't have to be boring...

Raise your hand if you've heard the word before. Raise your other hand if you use grasscycling practices in your garden? Good, now put them together and give yourself a round of applause!!!

The rest of you, read on...

In short, it's a really simple way to recycle your grass cuttings. All you have to do is mow the lawn.

We're pretty sure there's not many people out there that will say mowing the lawn is their favourite job. Waiting for the brief moment of sunshine where the grass is dry enough to cut the grass in the first place. Then mustering the energy to mow the lawn when all you really want to do is make the most of the sun with an ice cream and ice cold drink. So then when you've committed to trundling out the mower, you build up a sweat pushing it around the lawn. Just as you think you're about to celebrate the fact you've braved it, you turn around and realise you have to dig the rake out of the shed and bag up the cuttings. 

Well with grasscycling, you can stop at the self-celebration part. Leave the cuttings where they fall and let nature do the rest... Yes please!

Tip 1: Cut when it's dry. Dry grass will cut cleanly, leaving a more even finish. Dry cuttings will also spread easier rather than sticking in patchy clumps around your garden.

Tip 2: Cut regularly. Mow when the grass is about 3 to 4 inches in height, and cut by about a third. This will help the roots to stay healthy. Longer, deeper roots won't need watering as frequently and will cope better during high temperatures. 

Tip 3: Use a sharp blade. Sharp blades will cut the grass efficiently and encourage healthy regrowth. Dull blades will bruise and damage what is left behind, leaving it susceptible to disease and accelerated weed growth.

Tip 4: Leave the cuttings where they landed. It might look like it needs raking, but if you've followed the previous tips, the cuttings will quickly fall between the blades of grass and out of sight. These will decompose, enriching the soil with vital nutrients, therefore being absorbed by the roots making the remaining lawn nice and healthy. 
​

So by only doing half a job you have:

• Saved time
• Reduced waste
• Made your lawn healthier

Lovely. What more could you want?